The Zamfara state government, on Friday, January 9, uncovered a ₦3.33 billion fraud scheme involving the registration of thousands of ghost students for the 2025 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
The irregularity was allegedly orchestrated by examination officers in collusion with principals of public secondary schools.
Zamfara State, like several other northern Nigerian states, implements a policy of covering WAEC and NECO examination fees for eligible students in public secondary schools.
This initiative aims to support poor and vulnerable families who cannot afford the costs, ensuring broader access to education for their children.
However, the welfare program has been plagued by persistent allegations of fraud and mismanagement.
According to state officials, the government uncovered approximately 6,000 fictitious students on the 2025 WAEC/NECO registration lists.
These ghost students were not legitimate enrollees in public schools but were fraudulently added, leading to unauthorized payments from state funds exceeding 300 million naira.
The discovery prompted governor Dauda Lawal to summon the implicated school principals and examination officers for questioning at the government house.
Governor Lawal condemned the scheme as fraudulent, unethical, and unacceptable, accusing the perpetrators of registering external candidates often from outside the schools or even the state as bona fide students, thereby siphoning public resources.
“We are paying for them with your taxes,” the governor stated, highlighting the misuse of funds intended for genuine educational support.
He emphasized the opportunity cost, noting, “With the money wasted on WAEC and NECO for 6,000 ghost students, amounting to 330 million naira, we could have increased salaries or conducted much-needed training programs.”
In response, the government has implemented stringent measures to prevent future occurrences.
Registration processes have been centralized under a dedicated agency, with the Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Science and Technology Board overseeing operations.
He said, “We want to help the people, the masses who cannot afford it that’s the essence of governance.
“We want their children to have access to education like every other person.”
As part of broader reforms in the education sector, governor Lawal has also directed the regular transfer of school principals away from their home local government areas.
This policy is designed to enhance oversight, reduce favoritism, and improve overall performance in public schools across the state.
The administration has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption, with erring principals and staff facing disciplinary actions, including potential dismissal.
Officials have assured the public that these steps will safeguard the integrity of educational programs and ensure resources benefit those truly in need.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s education system, where subsidized programs are vulnerable to exploitation.
The Zamfara state government has called on citizens to report any suspicious activities to aid in maintaining transparency and accountability.
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